US3612596A

US3612596A - Hook lock for traveling block

Info

Publication number: US3612596A
Application number: US866849A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wayne L Brackin
Original assignee: Dresser Industries Inc
Current assignee: NOV Inc
Priority date: 1969-10-16
Filing date: 1969-10-16
Publication date: 1971-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-12
Also published as: GB1302457A; FR2064381B1; AT302219B; FR2064381A1

Abstract

A lock is provided which fixes the hook on a traveling block with respect to the spring housing and block, at the same time allowing the hook to travel in a vertical direction the customary length of the spring within the housing. A pivoted L-shaped member engages an index ring by a downward pull and also disengages the index ring by a downward pull, thus allowing for ease of utility.

Description

United States Patent 2 ,331,341 10/1943 Nicolson et al. 294/82 2,508,595 5/ 1950 Christensen 294/ 82 X 2,661,232 12/1953 Long 254/192 X 2,814,522 11/ 1957 Palmer et al 294/82 FOREIGN PATENTS 878,783 6/1953 Germany 254/192 Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Assistant Examiner-Douglas D. Watts Attorneys-Robert W. Mayer, Daniel Rubin, Raymond T.

Majesko, Roy L, Van Winkle, William E. Johnson, J r., Roderick W. MacDonald and Eddie E. Scott ABSTRACT: A lock is provided which fixes the hook on a traveling block with respect to the spring housing and block, at the same time allowing the hook to travel in a vertical direction the customary length of the spring within the housing. A pivoted L-shaped member engages an index ring by a downward pull and also disengages the index ring by a downward pull, thus allowing for ease of utility.

PATENTl-Iunm 12 m1 SHEET 10F 2 FIG.

FIG. 2

INVENTOR WAYNE L. BRACKlN ATTORNEY PATENTEDUET 12 I97! SHEET 2 OF 2 FIG. 3

FIG. 4

INVENTOR WAYNE L. BRACKIN ATTORNEY rroox LOCK FOR TRAVELING BLOCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to the hoisting equipment used by drilling rigs to handle the pipe used to drill, complete and service a well. In particular, the invention relates to a lock used with that portion of the hoisting equipment which connects the traveling block to both the elevators and the swivel nd which is commonly called the hook.

The lock mechanism of this invention has utility when used with most hook and traveling block assemblies. Examples of such hook assemblies are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,278,163 entitled Hook Assembly, issued on Oct. 11, 1966, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,434,696, entitled Hook Assembly, issued Mar. 25, 1969. It should be appreciated, however, that since most hook assemblies can be modified to use the lock of the present invention, the particular hook assembly shown with the lock is not to be construed as a limiting factor upon the invention.

Although there have been various means and apparatus devised by those in the prior art for locking the hook against rotation, such locks have been plagued by a multiplicity of problems such as costly machined parts inside of the spring housing and also the requirement of a longer hook since part of the spring travel was frequently wasted length on the hook.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a new lock for fixing the hook against rotation with respect to the block.

It is also the object of the invention to provide a new hook lock assembly which allows shorter hooks to be used.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a less expensive, but vastly improved, hook lock assembly.

The objects of the invention are accomplished, briefly, by the use of a lock ann which engages an index ring to lock the hook against rotation with respect to the block. Means are provided for releasing and engaging the lock arm with respect to the index ring by simple vertical downward pull movements.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be readily appreciated from a reading of the following detailed description of the invention and accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in cross section, of a traveling block and hook assembly having the hook lock assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus according to FIG. 1;

FIG 3 is a plan view of the index ring engaged by the lock arm according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, partly in cross section, of the lock arm assembly according to the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view, partly in cross section, of the assembly of FIG 4.

Referring now to the drawing in more detail, especially to FIG. I, there is shown the traveling portion of hoisting equipment commonly used on a drilling rig for handling pipe, with the exception of the elevators. The traveling portion consists of a traveling block and a hook assembly, generally indicated by the number 16. Traveling block 10 includes a plurality of sheaves 11, five being shown in the drawing (see FIG. 2) but which can consist of any given number of sheaves. As is known in the art, a crown block (not shown) supports the traveling block through the hoisting lines 18.

Rotatably attached to the traveling block is hook assembly 16 which includes an adapter section 20 and a hook section 21.

The hook assembly 21 is arranged for rotation with respect to the adapter section 20, as would be observed at the surface 22 of FIG. 2. As best seen in the cross-sectional area of FIG. 1, the hook assembly 21 has an extension member 23 extending through the adapter member 20, having a slightly enlarged cylindrical portion 24 at the upper most end thereof. An index ring member 25, shown in another view in FIG. 3, is secured to the uppermost end surface of the cylindrical member 24 by a plurality of connectors 26 through the mounting holes in the index member 25. Thus it should be appreciated that as the book 21 rotates, the

extension members

23 and 25, along with the index ring 25 also rotate. As will be explained hereinafter, a lock arm engaging one of the indented areas 28 will cause the entire book member 21 to be incapable of rotation with respect to the adapter 20.

A spring 30 is mounted under the index ring 25 around the cylindrical extension member 23 in a manner conventional to the art of traveling block and hook assemblies. Usually such springs are provided with sufficient strength to not only lift hook 21, but also to lift a stand of pipe supported by the hook section. Then when a stand is broken out of the pipe string, the spring will pull the pin of the lower tool joint out of the box of the next stand, therebv eliminating the necessity of raising the stand again before it can be racked.

A plunger 31 is attached to a plate 32 and adapted to guide the member 24 whenever the hook member 21 is experiencing a load sufficient to pull down on the spring 30.

The adapter and hook assembly 16 is also arranged to pivot about the pin 40, best illustrated in FIG. 2, with respect to the traveling block assembly 10.

The hook lock assembly 50, with its locking arm 51, better illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, is shown in FIG. 1 in its relationship to the index ring 25.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top plan view of the index ring 25, having a plurality of mounting holes 27. The index ring 25 also has a plurality of slots 28 such that the lock arm which is described with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5 can be more easily engaged with the index ring.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a side elevational view of the lock assembly 50, partly in cross section. The lock assembly 50 includes an L-shaped locking am 51 which has one of its ends pivoted for movement around a pin '52 connected to the adapter assembly 20. It should beappreciated that it is the edge 53 of the locking arm 51 which engages one of the slots 28 in the index ring 25 of FIG. 3. A pin 54 is provided from the adapter 20 for engagement with the notched out area 49 of the locking arm 51 to provide proper position for thealignment of the lock rod and the two holes described hereinafter. A spring 55 attached to the adapter assembly 20 causes the locking arm 51 to be forced into engagement with the index ring 25 when no other forces are present. A lock guide housing 56, shown in cross section in FIG. 4, is secured to the adapter assembly 20 by a connector 57. Slidably mounted within the lock guide housing 56 is a lock rod 58 having an eye at the bottom thereof. Also slidably mounted within the housing 56 is a lock guide assembly 59 surrounding the lock rod 58 and having a U-shaped upper extremity for access by the nonpivoted end of the locking arm 51. The lock guide assembly 59 is pinned to the lock rod 58 by a pin 60. A spring 61 causes the lock rod 58 and lock guide assembly 59 to be pushed upward into engagement with the

holes

62 and 63 until lock rod member 58 is disengaged as will be explained hereinafter.

' The locking arm 51 has a pair of

holes

62 and 63 for receiving the lock rod 58. In the preferred embodiment, the lock rod 58 has a cylindrical-shaped upper extremity and the

holes

62 and 63 are cylindrical-shaped holes for receiving the lock rod 58. However, it should be appreciated that the upper extremity of the lock rod 58 could be of any shape desired and that the

holes

62 and 63 could be made in any manner desired for receiving the lock rod 58.

In the operation of the lock assembly heretofore described, it should be appreciated that the spring 55 forces the locking bar 51 into engagement with one of the slots 28 on the index ring 25 and that the lock rod 58 is positioned in the hole 63, thus locking the bar 51 in that closed position. The pin 54 provides the proper position for the alignment of the rod 58 in the hole 63. To disengage the lock bar 51 from the index ring 25, one has only to pull down on the slot 65 provided on the nonpivoted end of the L-shaped locking bar 51. Although not illustrated, this can be done by attaching a cable or any other such means through the slot 65 for exerting a downward pull. By pulling down on the slot 65, the lock guide assembly 59 and lock rod 58 are together pulled down, disengaging the lock rod 58 from the hole 63. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the top of the locking rod 58 moves downward far enough for the rod 58 to leave the hole 63 before the locking arm 5! begins to pivot responsive to the downward pulling force. The downward pulling movement on the slot 65 then causes the locking arm 51 to be pivoted about the pin 52, thus disengaging the locking arm 51 from the index ring 25. When the-locking bar 51 has reached its full disengaged or open position, the locking rod 58 engages the hole 62 for causing a securely locked open position." When it is desired to again engage the locking bar 51 with the index ring 25, the eye of the locking rod 58 is pulled down, as by a rope or cable attached thereto (not illustrated). By disengaging the locking rod 58 from the hole 62, the spring member 55 then causes the locking rod 51 to be pushed over into the fully engaged position within the index ring 25.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein are presented by way of example only and many modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, although a slotted index ring is provided for receiving the locking bar 51, it should be appreciated that other types of conventional slotted receiving means can be used as alternative embodiments.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A book lock assembly including a hook and an adapter for attaching the hook to a traveling block wherein the hook is pivotally attached to the adapter to allow the hook to pivot with respect to the adapter, comprising:

a movable locking arm attached to said adapter, said locking arm comprising an L-shaped member pivoted about one of its ends and having first and second locking rod receptacles; I

a locking arm receiving member rigidly attached to said hook;

a springJoaded locking rod slidably attached to said adapter adapted to be successively inserted and removed from said receptacles in conjunction with the movement of said locking arm;

spring means for causing said locking arm to engage said receiving member after said locking rod is removed from said first receptacle; and

means for disengaging said locking arm from said receiving member after said locking rod is removed from said second receptacle,

said means for disengaging said locking arm from .said receiving member comprising means for applying a downward vertical force to the nonpivoted end of said L- shaped member.

2. The hook lock assembly according to claim 1 wherein said receiving member comprises a slotted index ring.

Claims

1. A hook lock assembly including a hook and an adapter for attaching the hook to a traveling block wherein the hook is pivotally attached to the adapter to allow the hook to pivot with respect to the adapter, comprising: a movable locking arm attached to said adapter, said locking arm comprising an L-shaped member pivoted about one of its ends and having first and second locking rod receptacles; a locking arm receiving member rigidly attached to said hook; a spring-loaded locking rod slidably attached to said adapter adapted to be successively inserted and removed from said receptacles in conjunction with the movement of said locking arm; spring means for causing said locking arm to engage said receiving member after said locking rod is removed from said first receptacle; and means for disengaging said locking arm from said receiving member after said locKing rod is removed from said second receptacle, said means for disengaging said locking arm from said receiving member comprising means for applying a downward vertical force to the nonpivoted end of said L-shaped member.